Spotting apparatus



April 9, 1957 E. L. CHRISMAN SPOTTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1953 Ears-s7 AI fveasnm IN VEN TOR.

A rraevs/ SPOTTING APPARATUS Ernest L. Chrisman, South Gate, Calif., assignor to Intercontinental Manufacturing Company, Inc., Garland, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,708

Claims. (Cl. 68-5) The present invention relates generally to a garment cleaning and spotting apparatus and more particularly to a spotting apparatus having control means arranged in a particularly advantageous position enabling eflicient, easy, reliable and rapid operation of the device.

Heretofore, the efiiciency of spotting devices, utilized in cleaning and pressing establishments in the garment cleaning industry, have been relatively inefficient, due in a large part, to the specific arrangement of the components of the device and to the usually inaccessible positioned controls therefor. Such controls have heretofore been positioned on extended arms, operated by levers and remote switches, or alternately, have been used in connection with foot operated pedal mechanisms, these mechanisms normally employing complex linkage devices and other necessarily heavy, complex, expensive and difiicult to manufacture components. Prior devices have also had an associated disadvantage in connection with the compleX nature of the operating and control mechanism utilized therein, such mechanism necessarily requiring frequent service and employing complex and relatively heavy components thereby adding to the cost of manufacture, crating, shipping and the like, as well as requiring a larger, more cumbersome frame, thus occupying considerably more floor space than would normally be required for a more efficient, compact, and lighter device.

Operators of cleaning and spotting machines have long been plagued with inefiiciently positioned controls necessitating the use of both hands for the actuation of such controls. In the usual situation, one hand of the operator must be used to hold the garment being cleaned while the other must hold and direct a spotting gun.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a spotting apparatus having mechanical features and a novel control means to overcome the aforesaid prior difiiculties in like machines.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel, compact, efficient and lightweight spotting and cleaning apparatus.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a novel control means for cleaning and spotting apparatus wherein the actuating means for such controls are readily accessible to the operator of such a device thereby enabling efiicient, reliable and rapid operation thereof.

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel spotting gun for use with a spotting apparatus, wherein the controls for the operation of such an apparatus are readily accessible and associated with a handle grip of such a gun, so that they may be easily reached by the hands of an operator even though one of the operators hands may be occupied in either holding or moving the garment being cleaned upon a suitable cleaning surface.

It will be seen that the present invention has other objects, advantages, and features, some of which, with the aforegoing, will beset forth in thefollowing description in which certain embodiments" of the invention have beenselected for illustrative purposes only in the accompanying 2,787,900 Patented Apr. 59, 1957 drawings which form a part of the present specification, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the spotting and cleaning apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation view of a portion of the control means for the present spotting apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the control means shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the electrical, pneumatic and steam control means for the present spotting apparatus. 7

Referring primarily to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the spotting apparatus of the present invention is shown as indicated generally at 10. As shown, the apparatus includes a base 11 that is adapted to rest on a floor or the like, and a tubular upstanding column portion 12, the base 11 and the column 12 forming the supporting frame for the device. A bracket 13 is mounted on the upper end of the column 12 and is adapted to support an outwardly extending garment supporting table or buck 14. A secondary garment supporting table 15 is mounted on and extends outwardly from the column 12 at a point intermediately base 11 and the table 14. The table 14 has a chamber 16 formed therein, the upper wall 17 thereof being provided with suitable spaced openings 18, the purpose of which will be later described. The table 14 is in the form of a board that may, in the usual manner, be covered with cloth or other substance to thereby provide a clean working surface on which garments may be placed by an operator. A smaller secondary hollow board 19 is mounted on a rotatable frame arm and conduit 20 that extends upwardly from the column 12, this smaller board being utilized for the cleaning and spotting of smaller portions of garments such as, for example, sleeves, trouser legs, and the like.

A relatively thin, flexible arm 21 extends upwardly above the board 19 and has a portion 22 extending out wardly from the upper end thereof, the arm 21 being secured to the frame of the spotting apparatus. The portion 22 of the arm is provided with spaced rings 23 and 24 that are adapted to support one end of springs 25 and 26. Springs 25 and 26 are provided with end loops 27 and 28, these loops being adapted to support a common flexible conduit or hose 29 and an electrical cable 30, the conduit 29 and the cable 30, extending to a cleaning and spotting gun indicated generally at 31. The other end of the conduit 29 extends to a suitable control mechanism, indicated generally at 32, and the electrical cable 30 extends to a junction box 33, the junction box 33, being mounted on the column 12, the electrical controls therein being operatively associated with the controls indicated generally at 32, in a manner to be later described.

With reference primarily to Figs. 1 and 4, the spotting gun 31 comprises a nozzle 34 that is mounted on a suitable pistol grip handle 35 as by suitable brackets 36. A trigger 37 is pivotally mounted in the grip 35 and adapted when depressed to operate a contact member 38 of a pair of aligned switches 39 and 40, the construction being such that upon movement of the contact member 38, the switch 39 will be closed and upon further movement of the contact 38 by the trigger37, the contactsof the switch 40 will also be closed, the purpose of which will be later described. The grip 35 of the spotting gun 31 is also provided with a button 41 on the forward 32. Electrical energy is adapted to be delivered to the junction box 33 by means suitable leads 45 and 46 through a master switch 47. One side of the circuit carrying the electrical energy isdelivered to the beforemen tioned switches in the grip of the spotting gun-31 through a wire 48, and to field windings 49, 50, 51 and 52, associated with solenoid operated valves 53, 54, 55 and 56, through a Wire 57. An indicating light 58, and a fuse 59, are also connected into the circuit to provide a visual notice that the machine is on and to provide safety in case of malfunctioning thereof. Switch 39 is connected to the field winding 51 of the valve 55 by means of a wire 66, the switch 40- being connected to the field winding 52 of the valve 56 by means of another wire 61. Switches 32 and 4d are connected to the field windings 50 and 49 of the-valves54 and 53, respectively, by means of wires 62 and 63'. The construction and operating characteristics of the solenoid valves 53, 54, 55 and 56 are such that upon closing of the switches associated with the field windings of these valves, the valves will be opened to thus permit liquid or gaseous flow therethrough in a manner to be later described.

The control means 32 comprises an accumulator 64 that is adapted to receive steam from a suitable boiler 65 through a conduit 66, there being a return conduit 67 for the return of moisture condensed in the accumulator 64 to the boiler; The accumulator 64 is of conventional construction enabling the delivery of relatively dry steam therefrom through a conduit 68 and the delivery of damp or relatively wet steam through a conduit 69. The wet steam being delivered through the conduit 69, is adapted to be delivered to the solenoid operated valve 56 and from this valve through a conduit 70 to the common conduit 29 leading to the nozzle 34 of the spotting gun. A check valve 71 is positioned in the conduit 70 to prevent flow back through this conduit. By way of a branch conduit 72 connected to the conduit 68, dry steam is adapted to be delivered to the solenoid operated valve 55 and from this valve to the common conduit 29 by means of a conduit 73. Dry steam is also adapted to be delivered through the conduit 68 to the solenoid operated valve 53 and from this valve to a conduit '74- to a suitable venturi 75. A check valve 76 in the conduit 68 prevents return flow through this conduit. The venturi 75 has a throat 77 from which a conduit 78 extends. The conduit 78 is connected to the interior chamber 16 of the board 14, through the. line to the smaller board 19. The construction of the venturi 75 is such that flow therethrough will create a low pressure region at the throat 77 thereof to thereby create a vacuum in the chamber 16 of the board 14 and in the interior of the smaller board 19.

Compressed air is adapted to be delivered to the system from a suitable compressor 79 through a conduit 80, the conduit 80 being coiled, for example, about the accumulator 64, as at 81, to thereby provide means for heating the compressed air delivered from the compressor 79. From the coils 81, the heated compressed air is delivered through a conduit 82 to the solenoid operated valve 54 and from this valve through a conduit 83 to the common conduit 29 leading to the nozzle 34 of the spot ting gun 31.

It may thus be seen that there has been provided a spotting apparatus having control actuation means positioned insuch a manner as to be readily accessible to the hands of an operator using such apparatus. The electrically controlled solenoid valves 53 through 56, in.- clusive, may be independently actuated by the switches 39, 40, 42, and 44, respectively, these switches being positioned in the handle grip of the spotting gun 31 and in a position whereby the operator may easily reach them with. one hand while. still using that hand. to support and direct the nozzle: of the/spotting: gun.

When the garments are placed. on the board 14, the

operator grasps the spotting gun 31 by the grip portion and directs the nozzle toward an exposed soiled spot on the garment. Upon depression of the trigger 37, the switch 39 will be closed, thus energizing the field winding 51 to thereby open the valve 55 and permit the flow of dry steam from the accumulator64 through the conduits 72 and 73 to the common conduit 29 and from there to the nozzle 34 of the spotting gun. Upon further depression of the trigger 37, the switch 40 will also be closed thereby energizing the field winding 52- to open the valve 56 thereby permitting the flow of wet steam from the accumulator 64 through the conduits 69 and 70 and to the common conduit 29, the dry and wet steam being therein commingled and delivered to the nozzle 34, to thereafter be directed upon the soiled portion of the garment on the supporting board 14. Moisture collected in the garment, from the application of the wet steam thereto may be withdrawn therefrom by depressing the button 43, thus closing the switch 44' and energizing the field winding 49 of the solenoid valve 53, thereby permitting the flow of steam through the conduits 68 and 74 and to the venturi thereby creating a vacuum in the chamber 16 of the supporting board 14 and drawing air in through the openings 18 in the upper wall 17 of the supporting table 14. The moisture drawn into the chamber 16 is delivered through the conduit 73' into the throat 7'7 the venturi and from there out through a discharge conduit 84 to atmosphere. The garment is thus partially dried and may be further completely dried, in the local area of the previously soiled portion, by the depression of the button 41 and the closing of the switch 42 to thereby energize the field winding 50' and open the solenoid valve 54, permitting the fiow of heated compressed air through the conduit 80, the coil 81, conduits S2 and 83 to the common conduit 29 and from this conduit through the nozzle 34- of the spotting gun 31. The application of this heated compressed air to the moistened por tion of the garment is adapted to dry the garment in this local area.

With the buttons 41 and 43 and the trigger 3'7 arranged in close approximation to each other in the grip 35 of the spotting gun 31, the operator may move easily and rapidly from one to the other depending upon the type of cleaning or spotting being done and the sequence of operations necessary to accomplish such cleaning or spotting. During operation of the spotting gun 31, the other hand of the operator is free for use in moving the. garment about the surface of the supporting board 14 or for any other purpose necessary in order to provide for rapid and eihcient operation of the spotting apparatus and high production in the cleaning establishment employing such an apparatus.

It will be noted that the positioning and arrangement of the electrical cable 30 and common conduit 29, in addition to the control mechanism 32, is such that only the necessary components of the controls are positioned adjacent the table and/ or the spotting gun 31 to thereby provide a neat appearance and to maintain an efiicient operating situation for increased production from such devices.

From the foregoing description, the uses, advantages, and operation of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilledin the art to which the inven tion appertains. While-there has been described certain embodiments: oi the invention, it is desired to emphasize the fact thatthe invention may be applied to various types of cleaning and spotting mechanism and devices, to have it understood that the examples are merely illustrative, and that the invention isnot to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In garment spotting apparatus, the combination: a frame; a hollow perforated garment supporting boardoperably mounted onsaid frame; a spotting gun having a single discharge nozzle, said gun being operably positioned for use on garments disposed on said board; a single conduit for conducting fluids used in spotting to said discharge nozzle; means for supplying wet and dry steam to said conduit; means for supplying heated compressed air to said conduit; means for producing a vacuum in said board; electromagnetic operated valves for the respective means for supplying wet and dry steam and heated air to said conduit, and for the means for producing a vacuum in said board; and means, including a plurality of switches incorporated in said gun for controlling said valves, one of said switches controlling the supply of wet and dry steam, the one switch having two operating positions, and when said one switch is in one position the dry steam valve is opened and when in the other position the wet steam valve is opened, another of said switches controlling the valve for heated air, and a third switch controlling the valve for the vacuum producing means.

2. In garment spotting apparatus having a perforated garment supporting buck with a hollow interior and vacuum producing means for said interior, means for supplying wet and dry steam, means for supplying heated compressed air and electrically operated valve means for controlling the respective means for supplying wet and dry steam, heated air, and the means for producing a vacuum in said board: a spotting gun including a single discharge nozzle; and a plurality of switch means incorporated in said gun and connected to and controlling said electrically operated valve means a two-position switch means controlling the valve means for the supply of wet and dry steam, a second switch means controlling the valve means for the supply of heated air and a third switch means controlling the valve of the vacuum producing means, the said two-position switch means providing dry steam in one of its positions and wet steam in its other position.

3. In garment spotting apparatus having means for supplying wet and dry steam, means for supplying heated compressed air, an electrically operated means for controlling the supply respectively of the wet and dry steam and the heated air: a spotting gun including a single discharge nozzle; and a plurality of switches incorporated in said gun and operably connected to the respective electrically operated means for controlling same, one of said switches having a plurality of operating positions for selectively controlling the supply of wet and dry steam, and another of said switches controlling the supply of heated air.

4. A garment spotting gun, comprising: a single fluid discharge nozzle for discharging various fluids used in spotting garments; a single conduit for delivering said fluids to said nozzle; a hand grip for said nozzle; and a plurality of switches carried by said hand grip in positions for ready access to an operator, one of said switches being adapted to control the supply of one fluid, another of said switches having a trigger actuator and being adapted to selectively control the supply of two other of said fluids, said trigger actuated switch having two operating positions and when said switch is in one of said positions, a supply of one of said fluids is adapted to be provided, and when said switch is in the other of said positions, the other of said two fluids is adapted to be provided.

5. In a garment spotting gun: a single fluid discharge nozzle for discharging various fluids used in spotting garments; a single conduit for delivering said fluids to said nozzles; a hand grip for said nozzle; and a plurality of switches incorporated in said gun in positions for convenient operation by an operator, said switches being adapted for selectively controlling the delivery of said fluids to said nozzle, one of said switches having a single closed position, and another of said switches having a plurality of closed positions and a trigger actuator for selectively controlling said switch with respect to said closed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,613,823 Gradolph Jan. 11, 1927 1,763,046 Heimburger June 10, 1930 2,445,592 Yanchenko July 20, 1948 2,455,756 Glover Dec. 7, 1948 2,593,080 Wilkey Apr. 15, 1952 2,606,069 Hutchins et al. Aug. 5, 1952 2,619,821 Fink Dec. 2, 1952 2,635,010 Sanders Apr. 14, 1953 2,657,566 Richterkessing Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 487,971 Great Britain June 29, 1928 

